The Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (Fice) selected Stantec’s Caloosahatchee River Bridge Widening and Wekiva Parkway Sections 4A & 4B projects carried out in Florida, the US, for awards under its yearly “Outstanding Project Awards” programme.

Caloosahatchee project received the award for outstanding bridge project and Wekiva Parkway received the award for outstanding environmental project.

Fice recognises outstanding achievement by its member firms in accomplishing Florida transportation projects. Firms are nominated for awards in seven project award categories. The Fice outstanding projects awards committee comprises the Florida department of transportation and Fice representatives. The committee selects one winner in each of the seven project categories and Stantec was honoured to receive two of the seven awards given in 2016.

The Caloosahatchee river bridge widening project is important in the enhancement of mobility for the local community. Stantec used accelerated bridge techniques, like prestressed/precast components for the piling, beam, and pile caps, and a “top down” construction method to prevent environmental encroachments owing to the 25 different animal species in the river.

The company states that the Wekiva Parkway Sections 4A and 4B project completes the Western Beltway around Orlando, providing a higher capacity and safer east-west travel in Orange, Lake and Seminole counties in the US. The project includes two retention ponds, dual floodplain bridges, a mainline toll plaza, an interchange with the SR 46 connector road, and special wildlife fence and jump outs, the company reports.

A large population of gopher tortoises and a small population of burrowing owls within the construction limits, had been reported to the company before commencement. A total of 281 tortoise burrows were excavated with 139 tortoises recovered before work could begin on site, the company concludes.